Pastor A. Michael Black
SENIOR PASTOR
A. Michael Black was called to serve as Pastor of Antioch Baptist Church, Deanwood on June 4, 2022. His calling of life became crystallized when he
delivered his initial sermon at Bethesda Baptist Church in July 1982 and was
officially licensed to preach the gospel on January 9, 1983, under Rev. Dr. John
D. Bussey and was ordained on November 10, 1984.
Pastor Black recognized his need to be thoroughly equipped to further his calling at the
following:
- Washington Bible College, Lanham, Maryland, Bachelor of Arts Degree in Pastoral Ministry.
- Palmer Theological Seminary (formerly Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Master of Theological Studies in Christian Faith and Public Policy.
- Doctoral Studies, Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, DC, in the Leadership Excellence Program.
- Honored with an Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree in April 2005.
He previously served as the Dean and Site Director for Lancaster Bible College and Capital Seminary and Graduate School at the Greenbelt, Maryland campus, pastor of Elim Baptist Church, Temple Hills, Maryland, his home church, Bethesda Baptist Church, Washington, DC, Westwood Baptist Church, Richmond, Virginia and Executive Pastor at Heritage Fellowship Church, Reston, Virginia.
Besides serving as a pastor, he held numerous leadership roles in several organizations:
- President of the Missionary Baptist Ministers’ Conference of Washington, DC and Vicinity
- Adjunct Professor at Washington Bible College
- Member of the Board of Directors for Washington Bible College and Capital Bible Seminary, Baptist Convention of Washington, DC and Vicinity and Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Convention
- Dean of the Baptist Educational Congress of Washington, DC and Vicinity
- Professor at Washington Baptist Theological Seminary
Pastor Black is married to the former Angli J. Sampson and has three children, Michael, Letitia and Joshua and is also a proud grandfather. In all of his work and ministry, he endeavors to be true to his favorite verse of scripture, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58 NKJV)